Except, a “blackjack” is the highest hand, consisting of an ace and any 10-point card, and it outranks all other 21-point hands. If the sum exceeds 21, it is called a “burst” and whoever has a burst looses right away. A CSM is a combination automatic blackjack shuffler and dealing shoe. Casinos usually place 5 decks of cards into the CSM. After a betting round is completed, the dealer will scoop up the just played cards (discards) and instead of placing them into a discard tray will insert the cards back into the CSM for shuffling with the remaining 4.5.
Many casinos have introduced continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) on their blackjack tables in recent years. They rely on CSMs to reduce the dealer’s workload and speed up games.
Obviously, continuous shuffling machines work well from the casino’s perspective. But not every player is a fan of CSMs.
Why the hate for these machines? I’ll discuss more on how a CSM works along with its pros and cons.
Basics of a Continuous Shuffling Machine
All blackjack games were hand shuffled in the past. However, CSMs have made their way onto more and more blackjack tables.
These machines feature an opening at the top. Dealers grab a pile of cards from the discard tray and insert them into this opening.
The CSM then shoots cards into various slots located inside of it. This process happens randomly to produce a random shuffle.
Once the machine has finished sorting cards, it pushes the pile to the top. A dealer can grab this clump of cards and begin dealing them like normal.
Contrast this scenario to a traditional hand-dealt game. At some point, dealers must completely stop the game to shuffle the deck or shoe (2 or more decks).
Some players appreciate these small breaks to stand up and stretch. However, CSMs eliminate these breaks by ensuring that the games don’t need to stop.
CSMs Are Controversial
Everybody has their own reasons for playing blackjack. Some appreciate the in-depth strategy, others like the low house edge, and some enjoy the classic feeling.
The latter can make one feel like an important high roller—no matter how big or little they bet. After all, real money blackjack is one of the most-traditional games in the casino.
A CSM takes away from this feeling, though. It introduces a machine-based element into a game that, for centuries, was always shuffled by hand.
Misconceptions provide another reason why continue shuffling machines are controversial. Some gamblers believe CSMs increase the house advantage.
This belief is mistaken when considering that a CSM actually reduces the house advantage (covered later). However, players lose more money when these machines are present thanks to the increased game speed.
Casinos hold an advantage over recreational players. Therefore, they stand to win more hourly profits when the game runs continuously.
The other common misconception is that casinos rig blackjack through CSMs. Those subscribing to this notion believe that casinos only use these machines to cheat.
Such an act wouldn’t be worth it from the casino’s view considering that they’d destroy their reputation if caught using a rigged CSM. However, players have always been mistrusting of machine-based casino games.
Pros of a CSM
Earlier, I mentioned that casinos love continuous shuffling machine due to the increased profits. But these contraptions also provide certain benefits to players as well.
Offers More Action
Some gamblers enjoy a faster blackjack game. They want to play lots of hands and get the most entertainment possible.
CSMs contribute to quicker game speed. They prevent the dealer from holding games for several minutes just to shuffle.
Of course, a dealer can still slow the game down by dealing at a snail’s pace. By and large, though, continuous shuffling machines increase the amount of hourly hands by around 20%.
Keeps Games Running Smoothly
Anybody who’s on a hot streak hates when a blackjack game suddenly stops. They don’t want their momentum ruined when they’re winning hand after hand.
Unfortunately, this scenario is a fact of life with hand-shuffled games. The dealer needs to stop the action at some point to shuffle the shoe.
A CSM ensures that the croupier never needs to halt the game. They only need a few seconds to insert card clumps into the machine and take them out afterward.
Lowers the House Edge
Contrary to what some players think, a continuous shuffling machine doesn’t give the house a bigger advantage. Instead, it lowers the house edge by 0.014%.
This figure isn’t enough to completely tilt the odds in your favor. It’s also small enough to where you might not even notice the extra advantage.
Nevertheless, you stand a slightly better chance of winning each hand when playing with a continuous shuffling machine.
Cons of a CSM
Misconceptions aren’t the only reasons why people don’t like these machines. Below, you can see the biggest downsides regarding CSMs.
Leads to More Losses
Land-based casinos hold between a 0.5% and 2% edge over blackjack players. Their advantage varies based on the rules available.
You can improve your odds by choosing tables with the best rules. However, you still face a realistic prospect of losing with a CSM involved.
No matter if the casino holds a 0.5% or 2% advantage, they still have the long-term edge. Therefore, you stand to lose extra money when you’re exposed more to this house advantage.
Takes Away Breaks
Blackjack is a mental game that features extensive strategy. Assuming you master this strategy and play on tables with favorable rules, you’ll be facing less than a 1% house edge.
But sometimes, you may need a break from the action to refocus. Hand-shuffled games give you several minutes every hour to collect your thoughts.
CSM tables, on the other hand, don’t offer the same luxury. The dealer can keep the game moving for hours without needing to stop and shuffle.
Ruins the Classic Feeling
In a perfect world, you might see yourself sitting at a high roller blackjack table, wearing formal wear, and winning five- or six-figure bets. What you probably don’t envision in this fantasy, though, is a continuous shuffling machine.
Blackjack has a classic feeling that many players love. It has existed in its current form for centuries.
A CSM cheapens the game by bringing a machine into the fold. It makes blackjack feel more automated and less exciting.
Prevents Card Counting
Assuming you fancy yourself a card counter, you’ll definitely want to avoid continuous shuffling machines. The latter ruins any chance you have at making profits through this advantage play method.
As a card counter, you need at least 75% deck penetration to make consistent profits. A CSM ensures that the dealer doesn’t even need to go 20% of the way through the shoe before cards are shuffled.
They can just pick up a pile of cards at any moment and place them into the machine. Therefore, you never get the kind of deck penetration you need to win consistently through card counting.
When You Should Consider Tables with CSMs
Overall, continuous shuffling machines give you more reasons to stay away than embrace them. But you might still think about playing at CSM tables when considering the following scenarios.
You like Faster Play
You probably don’t worry about being exposed the house edge if you play blackjack. After all, you’d never take a seat to begin with if you feared the house advantage.
Furthermore, you might be the type of player who embraces more hands per hour. A quicker pace gives you more entertainment in a shorter time period.
When sitting at a CSM table with 1-2 other players, you could see up to 150 hands per hour. This rate keeps you busy and entertained.
You Don’t Care About the Traditional Feeling
Perhaps you like playing blackjack in land-based casinos but aren’t overly concerned about the atmosphere. In this case, you probably also don’t care when CSMs are brought into the fold.
These machines make blackjack feel a little less traditional. However, they don’t diminish from the fact that you’re still sitting at a real table and receiving hands from a human dealer.
You’re Looking for Any Edge Possible
Serious recreational blackjack players look for any advantage they can get. If you fall into this class, you’ll appreciate a continuous shuffling machine.
Again, a CSM reduces the house edge by 0.014%. This small edge, combined with other favorable rules, can help you lower the overall house edge to 0.5% or lower.
Conclusion
Most blackjack players simply prefer hand-shuffled tables. They like the classic atmosphere and getting breaks when the dealer stops to shuffle.
As you can see, continuous shuffling machines aren’t completely bad. They do provide advantages in certain situations.
Whether you play at a table with a CSM all comes down to individual preference. In the end, you might forget that the continuous shuffling machine even exists once you really get into the action.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Crown Casino in Melbourne is not only Australia’s premier land-based gambling venue, but the largest gaming complex in the entire Southern Hemisphere. As such, you would expect it to be a mecca for the most popular casino game in the world: real money blackjack.
However, the Southbank establishment – along with its sister site at Burswood, Perth – has become something of a no man’s land for players of 21 in recent years, due largely to the introduction of a controversial format known as Blackjack Plus. Let us show you why this is one game Aussie blackjack enthusiasts should look to steer well clear of, and what alternatives we might consider instead.
Why to avoid Blackjack Plus
Blackjack Plus tables began to appear at Crown around 2011, and have since replaced most low-to-medium limit 21 games on the casino floor. But what is it about this particular style that has so infuriated punters and anti-gaming spokesmen alike?
At a glance, the game has plenty of rules that benefit the player:
- Natural blackjack pays 3/2
- All 21 hands are paid out straight away
- All five-card hands under 21 are paid out straight away
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Players can double down on any hand of two or three cards
For starters, the 3/2 payout on a natural 21 is a significant improvement on the 6/5 return found in many Australian blackjack games. The fact all 21s and five-and-under hands win immediately is another big yes that was previously hard to come by. But all these player-friendly rules are made redundant by one big, fat stinker: the dealer cannot bust with 22.
The first time we here at Blackjack.com.au came across this rule, we were gobsmacked. Try explaining it to someone from overseas, and they will look at you like you’ve told them their dog just died. For in a game built around the premise of scoring 21 or less, how on Earth can the house be allowed to stand off with 22? It makes no sense.
And here’s the fun part: how does the 22 rule affect the house edge? Well, the original Crown Blackjack game bore a theoretical return of around 99.44 per cent – i.e. playing with good strategy, we could expect to regain about $99.44 of every $100 wagered. With Blackjack Plus, that figure sinks as low as 97.14 per cent when using a full shoe of eight standard decks. In the blackjack world, where the casino’s mathematical advantage is often less than 0.50 per cent, a house edge of 2.86 per cent is extremely high.
But what’s an extra $2.30 out of every $100? Think about the big picture here. This is not just your money, but every dollar spent on Blackjack Plus. If 1,000 punters gambled an average of $100 each, Crown could statistically expect to rake in over $28,000 – and that’s assuming every player is clued up and using basic strategy, which is incredibly unlikely. In the old 6/5 blackjack, that figure would be under $6,000.
So, to sum up, Blackjack Plus is a gross perversion of the game of 21 and should be avoided like the plague. Unfortunately, if you can’t afford to bet $100 per hand, you may find that your options at Crown Casino are very limited.
Other 21 games at Crown Casino
If you’re one of the lucky ones with a bankroll to burn, you can sidestep the BJ+ tables altogether for more traditional (and much fairer) variations on the grand old game of 21. You may find a few low-bet tables for these game styles, but as a general rule you should expect to pay a minimum wager of $50 or more per hand.
Crown Blackjack
This used to be the stock-in-trade before the scourge that is Blackjack Plus took hold on Southbank. It uses conventional Australian rules, with a 6/5 payout on natural blackjacks, no hole card for the house, and the dealer hitting all soft 17s. The house edge for Crown Blackjack is around 0.56 per cent.
Csm Blackjack Machine
Vegas Blackjack
If you have the cash and the clout to hang with the high rollers in the Mahogany Room, you might just find a halfway decent Vegas Blackjack table. This is as close to Nevada rules as you will get in Melbourne. The dealer takes a hole card (as is standard in the US), splits and doubles are allowed, and you have the option to surrender half your initial bet when the house’s upcard shows 10 or Ace.
Crown Pontoon
This is a distinctly Aussie blackjack variation, and probably your best chance of finding a low minimum bet limit outside BJ Plus. Crown Pontoon uses up to eight modified decks with all face-value Tens removed (i.e. there is no Ten of Clubs, Ten of Spades, Ten of Diamonds, or Ten of Hearts, for a total of 48 cards per deck). Naturals pay 3/2, and there are various bonus prizes for hands of 7 7 7 or 6 7 8 – including a Super Bonus of up to $5000. Crown also offers 6 to 5 Pontoon, with a decreased payoff for naturals.
Blackjack Sidebets in Melbourne & Perth
A handful of Crown’s blackjack games will offer side bets. These wagers are independent of your initial blackjack bet, and can be made on a specific set of incidental outcomes that might occur within the player’s hand.
Below are a few sidebet options you might find on any of the available 21 games at Southbank or Burswood. Be warned: these wagers come with a big house edge, so we suggest avoiding them unless you’re feeling extremely lucky.
Crown Suits: Wins at 2 to 1 odds when your first two cards are of the same suit. If the dealer’s card is also of the same suit as your first two cards, the wager pays 5 to 1. This is one of the more winnable blackjack side-wagers out there.
Perfect Pairs: Pays off when your first two cards turn up a pair. Exact payouts vary depending on the number of decks used and the specific form of 21 being played. In Crown Blackjack with eight decks, a mixed pair (different suits and colours) pays 6 to 1; a coloured pair (same colour, different suit) pays 12 to 1; and a perfect pair (same colour, same suit) pays 25 to 1. The house edge here is 4.1 per cent, but it can go as high as 12 per cent in Crown Pontoon.
Magnificent Sevens: One of the most tempting blackjack side-bets, with a maximum payout of 16,000 to 1 when you draw three Sevens in the same suit. You can also salute with off-suit Sevens (50 to 1) and suited Sevens (150 to 1) on your first two cards, as well as 7 7 7 in mixed suits (up to 950 to 1).
Blackpot: A semi-electronic blackjack variant, where players can place side-bets on a two-hand progressive jackpot using digital betting devices. If you draw a hand of 6 7 8 (pays 100 to 1) when playing the side-bet, you can then press the wager into the next hand and play for up to 20,000x your initial wager.
Tipping isn’t expected in Australian casinos, but many players do choose to tip the dealer. If you’re not sure about tipping etiquette during a game of blackjack, read our guide to when to tip the dealer.
Crown Rewards for blackjack players
Blackjack Csm Machine
One part of the Crown Casino which makes up for the terrible Blackjack Plus variant is Crown Rewards. This is a loyalty rewards program which is free to sign up for (either online or through the help desk at the casino) which grants members points for every transaction made within the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne (and Crown Perth, if you play 21 there). Use your card while playing blackjack at the tables, electronic blackjack or any other table game or pokies machine and you will gain points, which, when saved up enough, can be redeemed for freebies and experiences. Examples include: Crown gift cards, movie tickets, free parking, birthday offers, hotel discounts, grand final experiences and helicopter tours.
To gain the maximum rewards, it also pays to be a CrownBet.com.au member as well, as the Crown Rewards program ties in with every wager you make with your Crownbet account – make sure to link your Crown Signature Club Card to your Crownbet account first to ensure points are correctly awarded each time to place a bet.
For a full comprehensive break-down of what CrownBet Rewards entails and what kind of things you can redeem with the points, check out our in-depth guide to the CrownBet Rewards program.
Counting Csm Blackjack
Get Better Blackjack Odds – Play Real Cash 21 Online
We’ll be blunt: if you’re not playing at least $50 a hand, most of the live blackjack games at Crown Casino are a rip off. From a purely statistical point of view, every gambler is better off playing 21 over the Net – and that’s not taking into account all the added perks of online casino betting. Play from home, avoid the crowds, and save money on extortionate cab fares, all while enjoying a far greater range of real money blackjack options than you would find at any land-based casino.
Unfortunately, online gambling is illegal in Australia as of September 2017 following the introduction of the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, so online play is available for international readers only.
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